Current Trend of Early Glottic and Tongue Cancer Management in Korea

Chu, Hyung Ro; Jung, Kwang Yoon; Choi, Geon; Choi, Jong Ouck

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The management of early glottic, tongue and tongue base cancer remains controversial and the trends in the treatment rationale can be influenced by the clinician and/or the patient factors. This study assesses the current treatment trend in the management of glottic, tongue and tongue base cancer among the Korean Society of Head and Neck Surgeons membership. We want this data to give more information in regards to better selection of treatment against specific individual factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey instrument in the form of a questionnaire was designed by authors. The questionnaire was distributed to 91 members with 46 responses. After the data from these surveys were computerized, the analysis was performed using SAS software.
RESULTS
The two most frequently used treatment regimens of T2N0 glottic cancers were conservation laryngeal surgery (45.7%) and radiation therapy alone (19.6%). T2N0 tongue cancer was usually treated with surgery (56.5%) and surgery with radiation therapy (26.1%). The treatment patterns for tongue base cancer were varied as follows: surgery, 23.9%; radiation therapy only, 21.7%; combined therapy, 30.4%; and patient choice, 23.9%. In situations where an unclear resection margin is found, participants usually underwent adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy. A trend toward lower application rates was noted from positive margin (82.6%) to close margin (67.4%) and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.020). Important factors to determine which patient should be entered into a combined therapy program after neck dissection were the N-staging system and the histological extracapsular spread of lymph node metastases. Examination of treatment rationale demonstrated that the most preferred form of treatment was based on the perception of superior oncologic outcomes (87.0%). Treatment recommendations were usually decided by the operator (52.3%) and the tumor board (25.0%).
CONCLUSIONS
Treatment modalities were not significantly influenced by varied individual factors of participants. But a standard therapy has never been well defined. These varied factors in the management of early glottic, tongue and tongue base cancer and treatment rationale reflect that there are multiple influencing factors.